Eric Morrill, Robert Plogman, Atsushi Tameda of the University of California, Irvine have mapped their reinvented Pose (1969/2008), which took place on Sunday, June 1, 2008 around downtown Los Angeles.

Critical Mass Performance Group reinvented Pose (1969/2008) on Thursday, May 29. All photos by Aandrea Stang.

Eric Morrill, Robert Plogman, Atsushi Tameda of the University of California, Irvine reinvented Pose (1969/2008) on Sunday, June 1.

The Sun Valley Youth Arts Center reinvented Pose (1969/2008) on May 24, 2008.

The MOCA Apprenticeship Program reinvented Pose (1969/2008) around downtown Los Angeles on May 8, 2008.

The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego reinvented Pose (1969/2008) around downtown San Diego on May 10, 2008.

Chester A. Whitmore -The World is a Stage at the World Stage in Leimert Park – 3-19-08, 3:30 p.m.

William Grant Stills Arts Center reinvented Pose in March and April of 2008. Community members were asked to have a photograph taken at a site significant to their lives and leave it at the location. William Grant Stills Arts Center staff then wrote descriptions of the community members and their relationships to their chosen locations.

Dancing since 1974, Chester Whitmore originally studied to be a cinematographer. An encounter with famed tap dancer Fayard Nicholas
Changed his life. Eventually, Mr. Nicholas became his teacher and mentor.

Mr. Whitmore has been jumping ever since. Lately, he has been traveling around the world on tour as dancer, teacher, choreographer, director and entertainer. He and his dance company, Black Ballet Jazz, have performed with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra under the direction of Mercer Ellington, the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Frank Foster and the great Miles Davis.

Chester Whitmore’s choreography can be seen in music videos by Weird Al Yankovic, Tina Marie, Boys 2 Men, and most recently, Sugar Ray.

The NAACP Image Awards (1989-1994), Soul of American Music, and Stellar Awards (Gospel Music Awards) show Mr. Whitmore’s versatility in choreographing for diverse groups, such as the Nicholas B
rothers with Savion Glover, M.C. Hammer, Lavert, Bebe and Cece Winans, Vickie Winans and dance tributes to Dick Clark and The Artist (formerly known as Prince).

Teaching assignments included Herrang (Sweden), and dance performances, Salzburg (Austria), the San Francisco Jazz Festival (1997), the Monterey Jazz Festival (1996), performing with veteran jazz greats Jon Hendricks and Joe Williams.

Mr. Whitmore is actively involved in projects reaching young people through Los Angeles Cultural Affairs events as performer or as teacher for the Parks and Recreation Division, African Marketplace, and in schools and universities throughout the U.S. Chester Whitmore has taught almost everyone who has made a name in the swing.

Photo by Sherwood Hunter

In this version of Pose (1969), community members have been photographed in their favorite outdoor locations and a photograph has been left at the site. Documentation from this Happening will be exhibited at the William Grant Still Arts Center. On the occasion of the opening reception, a reinterpretation of the Happening titled Chairs—in which participants will be invited to bring chairs and arrange them to make art out of their placement and direction—will take place. This event is coordinated with the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
INFO 213/847-1541

For this event, a small group of local students
will reinvent Pose (1969) in downtown San Diego.
A discussion on the experience of taking part in this Happening will follow on Thursday, May 29.
INFO 858/454-3541, ext. 198, or mmuehlhausen@mcasd.org

This discussion about MOCA Apprentice’s reinterpretation of Pose (1969) will include viewing photo and video documentation of the performance and reflecting on the experience of reinventing this Happening.
INFO 213/621-1765 or fflores@moca.org

Children and adults from McGroarty Arts Center will use Polaroids to show cultural diversity in Sunland-Tujunga and explore how language differences impact a community through this reinvention of Pose (1969). This event is coordinated with the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
INFO 818/352-5285

Two art students, along with their art instructor, will reinvent Pose (1969) along the Streets of Sun Valley. One student, Dee Vasquez, will carry a metal folding chair along the streets and “pose” while a second student will photograph Vasquez with a Polaroid camera. Instructor Steve Sobalvarro will facilitate Pose and document the event. This event is coordinated with the Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles.
INFO 818/252-4619

Critical Mass Performance Group will reinvent Pose (1969) around the city of Los Angeles.
INFO 323/993-7263 or criticalmasspg.org

THURSDAY, MAY 29, 7pm
The Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego (MCASD)
1100 Kettner Blvd., San Diego

Local students, who reinvented the Happenings Pose (1969) and Giveaway (1969), in conjunction with the MCASD, will discuss their experience with Kaprow scholars and friends.
INFO 858/454-3541 x 198 or mmuehlhausen@mcasd.org

During this restaging of Kaprow’s Pose (1969), a performer will move through downtown Los Angeles carrying a chair. Polaroids of the performer sitting in the chair will be produced and left along the way. Additionally, other documents will incompletely record the happening. The web site (21stcenturyfluxus.com) will explore these documents. This event is coordinated by University of California, Irvine.
INFO 415/939-6001 or akhappening@21stcenturyfluxus.com

A discussion of Critical Mass Performance Group’s reinvention of Pose (1969).
INFO 323/993-7263 or criticalmasspg.org